Childhood mental health issues are rising — but what’s really going on beneath the surface?
“We’re pathologising kids before we’re listening to them.”
In this episode of The True Form Podcast, I sit down with Professor Kosmas Smyrnios — a former child and adolescent psychotherapist turned academic — to unpack what’s really happening with the rise in childhood mental health issues.
With over 30 years of experience in psychotherapy, research, and education, Professor Smyrnios brings a rare dual lens: clinical depth and academic insight.
We explore:
– Why emotional distress in kids is often mislabelled as a disorder
– How modern systems are failing both children and parents
– What’s changed in diagnosis and treatment across generations
– Why safety, connection, and presence matter more than ever
– What parents, educators, and practitioners need to rethink
From community mental health centres to lecture halls, Professor Smyrnios has guided families, taught students, and mentored over 30 PhD candidates. His work connects therapy, entrepreneurship, and systems thinking, and this conversation might change the way you think about childhood altogether.
🎧 Watch or listen now — and share it with someone raising or working with children.
Get access to the show notes, studies and documents via the community:
https://podcast.trueformpodcast.com/true-form-community
Watch me on YouTube
https://youtu.be/z2V8cy4C2Gs
If you’ve ever felt like your health habits aren’t quite clicking, this is for you.
https://jack-rovjgzyi.scoreapp.com
The True Form Wellbeing Assessment is a 26-question self-check that helps you measure key areas of your health: sleep, movement, nutrition, stress, and mindset, and understand what’s working and what needs attention.
You’ll walk away with a clear wellbeing score and a plan to start improving it today.
👉 Take the free assessment: https://jack-rovjgzyi.scoreapp.com
